September 6, 2008 is a date I will remember for the rest of my life.  It is the day I won my first race as a professional cyclist.

On that dark and gloomy Saturday, the 2008 Univest Grand Prix was being held for the 11th consecutive year in and around the town of Souderton, Pennsylvania. Winning for most of us cyclists is something that comes few and far between.

For the greats it happens more often, but for the lot of us it is something we don’t get used to. To win my first UCI (the governing body under which our races are ranked) or professional race, is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Coming one week after a heartbreaking loss at the USPro National Championships in Greenville, South Carolina, it was sweet redemption for the team.

As we flew into Pennsylvania on Friday evening, we were bombarded by news reports and radio broadcasts that once-Hurricane, now Tropical Storm Hanna was headed our way for Saturday’s festivities.

As we awoke to darkening skies, the warm tropical-like climate kept our spirits in check. At the start of the race a light rain fell, glistening the roads and making them slick as ice. The race began as vicious and aggressive as most, with the skating rink-like conditions adding an especially nerve racking and tense feeling throughout the group.

The race got harder and faster, and so did the rain, making for a race that not only involved being physically tough, but being confident enough to handle the deluge that ensued.

By the final 50km, the group had whittled itself down to 10 of the strongest riders and pushed ahead in the torrential downpour.

In that group, my team, Garmin-Chipotle, had three riders, the most of any team there. With numbers in our favor we relentlessly began trying to size that group down even more.

There were some non-productive folk in the group and we weren’t about to give them a free ride.

Taking words from the book of Lance, “No Gifts” seems to be our team motto these days. If they aren’t willing to share the work load we aren’t going to do them any favors. To do so, from a team perspective, means that all three of us were to keep attacking, or trying to escape from the group.

As one of us would go, the other teams would be forced to chase him down, and as they would do so we would sit behind them, getting a nice draft, and not help them do any of the work.

When they would bring one of us back another would go, thus causing them to chase again and slowly but surely we would wear them down.

As we attacked time and time again, it was my final attack that eventually separated me from the group. I was joined by one other guy, and employing yet another clever team tactic, I made him do the majority of the work as I had two fresh teammates close behind.

The two of us worked well together and created a substantial two-minute gap ahead of the rest of the field. With the other guy starting to fade I knew the race was in my hands, and with only two kilometers to go I put in one final attack and crossed the line — fists pumping in excitement, 15 seconds ahead of my companion.

It was the only way such an epic day could end, and it was a truly glorious feeling. 

If the USPro Championships was the ushering in of the new generation of American cyclists, this was the confirmation.

Not only did I win the race, but a closely-guarded field behind saw my two teammates take third and fourth place.

After having such a rough start to my season and some extremely frustrating moments, it is times like this that make the hard bits seem worthwhile.

There is a reason for everything, good and bad, and sometimes it is up to us to find out why they happen and use them to better our future endeavors.

For so long I have put things into the “experience” column of life and now, finally, that column is becoming strong enough to build something out of it.  

After having two strong weekends of US racing in a row, the powers that be couldn’t help but to notice my achievements.

As if the win wasn’t enough, I’m proud to announce that I have been selected by the board of directors at USA Cycling to represent Team USA at the World Championships being held Sept. 28, 2008 in Varese, Italy.

I am part of a young, yet extremely strong and motivated squad of six Americans competing in the race.

With four of us all under 25 years old, we are being led by longtime cycling veteran and Santa Rosa resident Levi Leipheimer.

And if that doesn’t make it geographically easy to cheer for us, my teammate Steven Cozza from Petaluma has also made the squad.

Three locals racing for title of World Champion, I believe that is a first!

Taking a young squad like this marks the acceptance by our peers that the new American generation of cyclists is ready to begin its journey to the top of the international stage.

If you would like to follow us online, the race will be streamed live on www.universalsports.com.

I can only hope I have given you every reason to do so.

• Editor’s Note: Napa native and professional cyclist Lucas Euser, who is living and training in Girona, Spain, writes a column for the Register every other Saturday.